Escape to Victory is getting a remake: Who would be in your starting XI?

Escape to Victory didn't set the world alight on its initial release in 1981, but as the decades have ticked on the film has firmly cemented itself as a cult favorite among fans of film and football.

Now, this potent mix of The Great Escape and underdog sports tale is in line for a remake with Edge of Tomorrow's Doug Liman at the helm. Liman will surely play it straight in the redo, but the original film featured a glorious mix of big movie stars of the day (Sylvester Stallone, Michael Caine), aging football icons who'd taken a paycheck in the US (Pelé) and Ipswich Town players (hey, they were big in the '80s!).

With that in mind, Digital Spy has picked a brand new Victory 2014 starting XI ready for 90 minutes of life-or-death football. FYI, we're playing 4-4-2 - the Nazis might overrun us in midfield but we're old school!

1. Jason Statham - GoalkeeperHow in the world do you replace Sylvester Stallone as Allied goalkeeper Robert Hatch? Simple, take his Expendables and Homefront protégé and put him between the sticks. The Stath has form for this thanks to Mean Machine and since he used to be a pro diver his sporting prowess isn't in question.

2. Michael Sheen - Right-backA Soccer Aid regular and a man who came within a glimpse of playing for Arsenal, Michael Sheen is a natural fit for the new Victory team. He also played Brian Clough in The Damned United so will know a thing or two about delivering a rousing motivational team talk.

3. Sam Worthington - Left-backThe star of the biggest movie in box office history Avatar, Sam Worthington slots in at left-back after impressing during the recent Soccer Aid showdown. Although with three Avatar sequels on the horizon can he be wrestled away from James Cameron?

4. Brad Pitt - Center-backWe can't vouch for Pitt's football skills, but we're putting him in the Michael Caine/Captain John Colby role. Typical Hollywood, you might think, re-casting a Brit as an American. But remember Pitt has starred in both Inglourious Basterds and Fury so this kind of WWII film is right up his street. He also worked with director Doug Liman on Mr and Mrs Smith.

5. Rio Ferdinand - Center-backUnloved by Fabio Capello and Roy Hodgson as his England career fizzled out, we're giving Rio a second chance next to Brad in our central defensive partnership. He's a free agent after being released by Manchester United, but his excellent footballing pedigree means he's our Bobby Moore of Victory 2014.

6. Vinnie Jones - Central midfieldEven the great teams need a hard man to dish out a few crunching tackles, win back the ball and pass it on to the superstars. Who better than Vinnie Jones? He may have retired from football long ago but he's still in shape and with movie credits ranging from X-Men: The Last Stand to Gone in 60 Seconds, he's perfectly at ease in front of the camera.

7. David Beckham - Right-wingThere's always been an air of Hollywood about David Beckham. The one-time poster boy for England's Golden Generation, he married a pop star, experienced World Cup heartbreak then redemption, made friends with Tom Cruise and even spent time on the West Coast playing for LA Galaxy. He's been in movies, too, most notably Goal and recent documentary Class of '92. He might be rusty on the pitch but he's our one-and-only choice for No. 7 (sorry Cristiano Ronaldo!).

8. Frank Lampard - Central midfieldOut of contract and released by Chelsea, Frank Lampard looks like he'll be finishing his playing days in the US (much like the pros in the Escape to Victory cast). The midfielder has endured a number of World Cup miseries, but in our side he's not going to be running into Steven Gerrard for 90 minutes. With Vinnie Jones sweeping up behind, Lampard is free to make the marauding runs of old.

9. Thierry Henry - StrikerBringing some Va Va Voom and cool French charisma to the frontline is Thierry Henry. Arsenal's record goalscorer and a World Cup winner with France, he may be in his footballing twilight years but there's still a touch of class about the skilful striker. He may not have much film experience, but when you're as good as Henry it doesn't really matter.

10. Lionel Messi - StrikerThe bicycle kick executed by Pelé's Corporal Luis Fernandez was one of the great fist-pump moments from the original Escape to Victory. When it comes to contemporary stars who match up to Pelé there can only really be one man: Lionel Andrés Messi. The Barcelona icon would be the man to build the Victory 2014 team around.

11. Neymar - Left-wingThere were question marks over Neymar before this summer's World Cup, but Brazil's maestro has proven himself to be pure class. He's been so good, he looks like he could win his home nation the trophy almost single-handedly. Imagine his jinking skill in and around the Nazi defense. Terrifying.

Who would be in your new Escape to Victory starting XI? Leave your comments in the space below!